Improvement in pocket-book fastenings



D.M.READ. I POCKET-BOOK FASTENING.

No.171,859. Patented Jan. 4,1876.

ATTUBNEYS.

N-PETERS, PHOTO-LITHDGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES DANIEL M. READ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y."

PATENT QFFIGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN POCKET-BOOK FA STENINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 71,859, dated January 4, 1876; application filed July 24, 1875.

vtaken through the line 09 a2,Fig. 1; and Fig.

3 is a detail View of the same, shown as detached and open.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The invention is an improvement in a wellknown class of pocket-book fasteners; and relates to the ratchet or toothed plate and hookor claw for engaging the same adjustably, as hereinafter.described.

A is the lower plate of the fastener, which is made with points or claws upon its edge to be passed through the pocket-book, or any article to which it is to be applied, and bent down and clinched. In the rear end of the plateA is formed a slot, a), to receive the neck of a stem, 1), formed upon the rear end of the top or cap plate B, the head of which stem works in a recess, a formed in the underside ot' the rear end of the plate A, so as to hinge the plate B to the plate A. G is a spring placed beneath the plate A. The forward end of the spring 0 is widened, and is secured to the forward part of the plate A by one or more rivets, and its rear or free end presses against the head of the stem of the top plate B, so as to hold said plate B in place, both when closed and when open. Upon the middle part of the upper side of the plate A, and in one piece therewith, is'formed a longitudinal rib, upon which are formed anulnber of ratchet-teeth a upon which the catch D takes hold. The jaw of the catch D is formed .With a notch to receive the toothed rib a so that the said catch cannot get out of place laterally. Thecatch D is held down upon the teeth, a by the plate B, so that it cannot be drawn back or unfastened without first raising the said plate B, but may be pushed forward freely to draw the pocketbook or other article closer together. The entire fastening is thus made of four pieces-the plates A B, the spring 0, and the catch D.

I do not claim a hinged-spring cap-plate for confining the (lap of a pocket-book, such combination being old and in common use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent' 'Ihe pocket-book fastening consisting of the plate A, having the longitudinal rib provided with ratchet-teeth, the hook-shaped catch D, and spring cap-plate B, all constructed and arranged as shown and described.

, DANIEL M. READ.

Witnesses:

JAMES T. GRAHAM, T. B. MOSHER. 

